Hurling- what’s gone wrong and where do we go from here.

teednab-el

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120462694#Comment_120462694

You should know what it feels like. Limerick waited a long time for all Ireland final championship success. 1973-2018.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120463679#Comment_120463679

Wow I never knew that.

Must have been a great time for the rest of ye to not have us around ruining hurling for everyone.

Asdfgh2020

How about splitting Limerick…….a ‘Limerick city’ based team consisting of teams from city only and then a limerick county team with players from everywhere else…🤣

Rosita

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120463679#Comment_120463679

Even longer than that. Apparently 2018 doesn't count either as Cork should've won it.

teednab-el

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120463709#Comment_120463709

Nobody said Limerick were ruining Hurling. I said here already on this forum that It's up to every other county to get up to Limericks level. Not Limericks fault at all. They are a great team. I love the way they play the game right now.

teednab-el

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120463756#Comment_120463756

Well they came back and won it that day and the result is all that matters.

jeff bingham

Would love to see a rule introduced whereby the player fouled strikes the free. If its a case of someone on opposite team fouling the ball the ref quickly picks the first player on the scene. I would apply something similar to the line ball. Closest player to it strikes it.

Its becoming a pain to watch a full forward or whoever jog out 100 yards to take a free and slow everything down.

Rosita

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120463875#Comment_120463875

That would encourage more fouling as it wouldn't be a specialist free-taker each time.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120461354#Comment_120461354

"When did Limerick last string four stick passes together?"

Sunday. Barry Nash goal.

Sunny Disposition

It's doing the thread an injustice to say it's anti-Limerick. It's not about Limerick, it's about how the game has changed for the worse. No one could blame that on Limerick.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120468444#Comment_120468444

It hasn't changed for the worse.

randd1

• Regulate the size of the bás to a standard size that's smaller than currently in use (as it should be according to the rules).
• No hand-passing from the same hand that releases the ball.
• Define the tackle so that the spare arm cannot be used to tackle or hold up a player, only a hook/block/shoulder/flick is an acceptable tackle.
• A player attempting to break a tackle by taking the ball into hand is showing intention to take more than four steps, and should be penalised for barging.
• A black card, noting a punishment for an 8 minute sin bin, is issued on a 3rd personal foul to counter deliberate pulling/dragging.
• Standardize the area to an oval 30 m from to the centre of the goal to 20m of the side of each goalpost in which a deliberate pull down is a penalty/sin bin and enforce it (to encourage goal attempts).
• All puckouts have to pass the 45 yard line.

Bring in those simple rule changes, and I reckon you'd instantly have a lot more chaos and unpredictability in the sport, and a cleaner sport to boot. The possession game is here to stay because at the end of the day it's a smarter use of the ball, but it's built around constant throwing/steps/barging which leads to more pulling/dragging/holding players up/rucks, and when not it's a game of exchanging pot-shots.

Occasionally we get to see some hurling, and some of the hurling is so skilful and of such quality it makes it easy to ignore the problems that are in hurling (and are increasingly becoming more central to it) and give the feeling that things have never been better.

Unfortunately in hurling these days you have to fundamentally be a cheat to prosper given the persistent breaking of the rules required to play the game, and it is becoming more and more predictable in it's state of play with very little in the way of organised chaos, and any sport in which that's the case is a sport in trouble.

This isn't the fault of any one county, it's a hurling problem that needs to be address by hurling people en masse, lumping the blame on any one county or manager/coach will only seeing us do what we've always done in the sport, fling excuses until it sticks to someone (usually the successful team of the day) and nothing changes.

Sunny Disposition

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120468685#Comment_120468685

Some good proposals there. I think if you were to enforce a regulation on bas size it'd go a very long way.

Brendan Bendar

Excellent post lad.

something has to be done, hurling has become a bit of a borefest with the

winning of frees being the most profitable strategy.

Who wants a procession of free takers slotting the sliothar over the bar

from inside their own half?

Thats what’s the mainstay of a lot of games are these days unfortunately.

Dyr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120468685#Comment_120468685

Simple way to put an end to pulling and dragging is a rule that every tackle must be performed with both hands on the hurl

Another way to end the plague of hurling rugby it that a hand pass cannot be caught but must be taken on the hurl, or that if hand pass is caught, it counts as the receiver playing the ball to his hand twice he cannot touch the ball a third time.

Freneys Treasure

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120468490#Comment_120468490

Multiple posters have provided reasons and also linked to articles containing reasons why they think that, despite skill levels being at a very high level, the game has changed for the worst, at least from an entertainment perspective.

So instead of ignoring these points and periodically dipping in and out of the thread to enter lazy one line retorts, maybe you could address the general points being made about the state of the game and back up your assertion that people who have concerns about how the game has evolved are mistaken?

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120468806#Comment_120468806

I did way back at the start.

This thread was set up clearly as a statement and not a question. Not an "is it gone wrong" but an "I has gone wrong"

The vast majority of the "clash of the ash" shte talked here is a hazy rose tinted misremembering of what the sport was actually like. You can't argue with fantasy.

"Entertainment" is purely subjective. Would you have any proof or signs that the general public think the entertainment levels are down ?

Are attendances or viewing down over the last 20/30 years ?

Is the game in any danger in terms of playing numbers ?

Dyr

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120468806#Comment_120468806

You're arguing with a contrarian, forget about logic and reasoning

Brendan Bendar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120468830#Comment_120468830

The decline in the entertainment of hurling is a very slow burner….very very slow.

The biggest pointer is the number of points scored….point scores in the high twenties are regular occurrences now.

The lack of ‘ground hurling ‘ is also an issue, how many ‘scrums’ have we seen in modern hurling with players

picking and poking to get the ball in their hands.

We have to face reality and see that hurling needs some reform.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120468959#Comment_120468959

The lack of ground hurling is purely subjective. Personally I think ground hurling is a load of sht. Fellas "pullin hyard" on a ball to nowhere. Mostly just the back in my day brigade that miss it.

The scrums are nothing new. Only difference is now players try get it into hand rather than just a crowd all flaking into it.

Everything you have just said is subjective and in no way part of some crisis that needs fixing. Just your opinion on the game that no stats suggest the wider audience agrees with.

Brendan Bendar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120469153#Comment_120469153

Incorrect, my friend, unfortunately shows a poor understanding of the game and it’s attraction.

I think you should try to evaluate the game rather than dump on folk who can see the issues.

Your post seems to imply that there is nothing ‘wrong’ with hurling, I think if you asked a different cohort

of real hurling people you would perhaps understand the issues.

Eoinbmw

If you'll pull into a ruck these days you'll be shown the line!

Brendan Bendar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120469607#Comment_120469607

If you pull before the ruck starts you will stay on the field.

Vinnie222

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120469721#Comment_120469721

Why would you pull before a ruck start. Just giving away possession

Davys Fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120468830#Comment_120468830

Gaelic football has bigger attendances and bigger playing numbers that Hurling yet Id guess you wouldnt suggest its a better game. So your points re attendance and players is not an indicator of issues within the game. Its very clear that people are not happy. You are from Limerick and its also unlikely that you would see anything wrong when your on a top, all due respects this is not a biased opinion against Limerick.

breezy1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120470302#Comment_120470302

It's about hurling's attendance versus itself. Are viewing figures down on the so called glory days.

Which period is the one people think is the example of the glory days ?

Show me how "it is very clear" ?

Where is "it very clear" ?

Brendan Bendar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120469735#Comment_120469735

It’s 15 players against 15, hombre.

Have a bit of belief in your team mates eh?

Its that kind of thinking that’s is poisoning our games, afraid to do anything but keep possession.

It could also free up one of your players and get them in on goal……

Davys Fits

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120470339#Comment_120470339

I didnt mention glory days. The game changes and comparing the past with now is futile. I know from speaking to hurling followers around the country and 18 pages of posts here and elsewhere that people are not happy with the throw fest in particular. Even your own Tj Ryan has said hes not fond of the modern game.

Vinnie222

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120470385#Comment_120470385

I hate to see you coaching my team. Pulling before a ruck 🙄

Brendan Bendar

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120470440#Comment_120470440

Loose ball dude, quick pull, she flies up the field, nippy corner forward anticipates, picks up , short solo, swing the stick and Gooooooooal.

You should try it?